Raiders Focus on Secondary During Free Agency

General Manager Dave Ziegler knows the Las Vegas Raiders were not a good defensive team last season.

That’s why he has made multiple moves during this free agency period to add defensive players to the Raiders’ roster. They have either signed or brought back six defenders, four of which are defensive backs.

For a Raiders team one season removed from being in the playoffs, winning only six games is well short of their expectations as a team. That’s why Ziegler has been one of the most aggressive players in free agency, making 16 different transactions, tied for the second-most moves in the league, according to CBS Sports’ free agency tracker.

With a quarter of those players being defensive backs -- one cornerback and three safeties -- there is a clear focus on improving the secondary. Not only have many of the Raiders’ defensive backs hit the open market, but the ones they’re relying on going forward are young and didn’t have the best seasons, specifically Nate Hobbs and Tre’von Moehrig.

While Hobbs and Moehrig are good players, they need bounce-back seasons, some depth and veteran leadership. Moehrig will have Marcus Epps next to him, a player coming off the best season of his career. Brandon Facyson returns to the Raiders after one season in Indianapolis with the Colts. The Raiders needed depth in the secondary, and they got it.

The Raiders knew they needed to improve their secondary, arguably more than any other position group on the team. Ziegler made an effort to do just that, and he added impactful players at good price points. Now, it’s up to Josh McDaniels and Patrick Graham to put the pieces together. If they can do that, the Raiders might be back in a position to make the playoffs.

The 2023 NFL Draft will go from April 27-29 and be held at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo. The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period began at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15.

The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

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